Dr Sir

General [Richard] Montgomery having received the enclosed Information on the 25h ult:, And being justly apprehensive, that the Enemy's armed Vessels might get into the Lake, unless an immediate Movement was made to this Place, resolved to proceed with what Force he could carry, of which he advised me by Express, which I received at Albany, where I was attending at the Indian Conference, on Sunday the 27 Ult. I arrived very much indisposed at Tionderoga on the 30th And left it on the 31st, after having given the proper Orders for bringing up the Artillery &c &c &c, on the 4th instant I joined General Montgomery at Isle-La-Motte, where he had arrived the preceeding Day, having been detained by Adverse Winds and rainy Weather, On that Day we moved on, and arrived at this Place, And agreeable to a Request that had been made us, we fired three Cannon to give Notice to the Canadians of our Arrival, who were to collect on the Occasion. On the fifth, I drew a Declaration (a Copy of which is enclosed) & sent it amongst the Inhabitants, And as we judged, that going to St Johns weak as we were, (our Numbers not exceeding one Thousand) might have a good Effect on the Canadians and encourage them to join Us, we resolved upon the Measure, and accordingly landed our Provisions, Baggage &ca and Early on the 6th embarked, and without any Obstruction proceeded towards St Johns. When we arrived in Sight of and at the Distance of about two Miles, the Enemy began a Fire from their Fortress, but without doing any Damage, we approached half a Mile nearer & then landed without Opposition in a close deep Swamp, after being formed, we marched in the best Order we coud in Grounds marshy and covered with Woods, in Order to approach & Reconnoitre the Fortresses. Major [Thomas] Hobby & Capt [Matthew] Mead of the Con: Forces being on the left and a little advanced, were attacked in crossing a Creek by a. Party of Indians, from whom they received a heavy Fire, but our Troops gallantly pressing on them, they soon gave Way & left us ー the Ground, in this Reencounter we lost a Serjeant, a Corporal and three Privates killed, one Missing and Eight wounded, three of whom are since dead. ー Besides these Major Hobby was shot thro the Thigh, but not dangerously and Capt Mead received a slight wound thro' the Shoulder, as did Lieut [Bezaleel] Brown in the Hand, Our Surviving wounded are in a fair Way of Recovery; Night now coming on we drew our Men together, and cast up a small Intrenchment to defend Ourselves in Case of an Attack in the Night. ー

In the Evening, a Gentleman whose Name I am not at Liberty to commit to paper, came to me and gave me the following Account, ー that there were no Regular Troops in Canada but the 26th Regiment, that all these, except fifty at Montreal, were at St Johns and Chamblee, that there were then at St Johns about one hundred Indians, that there was a considerable Body with Colo: [Guy] Johnson, that the Fortifications were compleat and strong and plentifully furnishd with Cannon, That The Vessel was launched & had one Mast in & the Other ready to raise; that she would be ready to sail in three or four Days and is to carry sixteen Guns, That he does not believe that our Army will be joined by one Canadian, that they wish to be neuter upon the Occasion, but if we should penetrate into Canada, it would not displease them provided their Persons and Properties were safe & we paid them in Gold and Silver for what we had; That in the Situation we were in, he judged it would be imprudent to attack St Johns & advised Us to send some Parties amongst the Inhabitants & the Remainder of the Army to retire to the Isle aux Noix, from whence we might have an Intercourse with La Praire. ー

He told me that in the Afternoon's Engagement five Indians were killed & four badly wounded, besides several Others, the Condition of whose Wounds he did not know, & Capt Tyce of Johnstown, who was wounded in the Belly.

On the 7th in the Morning (having been undistured thro' the Night excepting by a few Shells which did no. other Damage than slightly wounding Lt Mills) I called a Council of War of all the Field Officers present, to whom I communicated the Information I had received. ー

I inclose a Copy of their Opinion, which being perfectly consonant to my own, I immediately ordered the Troops to embark & we retired to this Place without any Molestation, where we propose to secure Ourselves in the best Manner we can, so as to prevent the Enemy from going up the Lake & also to enable us to take the Advantage of any Events, that niay happen in Canada, from whence I hope to hear in a Day or two from Col. [Ethan] Allen & Major [John] Brown, who went to deliver my Declaration. ー

I cannot estimate the Obligations I lay under to General Montgomery, for the many important Services he has done & daily does, in which he has had little Assistance from me, as I have not enjoyed a Moments Health since I left Fort George & am now so low as not to be able to hold the Pen ー Should we not be able to do any Thing decisively in Canada, I shall judge It best to move from this Place, which is a very wet & unhealthy Part of the Country, unless I receive your Orders to the Contrary. ー

The Sloop we hear is in the River & has on Board besides Provisions & Other Stores, three Pieces of Field Artillery & two Mortars & we are joined by three hundred Connecticut Troops, & four hundred Yorkers, so that we are about seventeen hundred strong, with five Pieces of Cannon and two Mortars, I am Dear Sir [&c.]

[Endorsed] Read in Congress 18th Sept 1775